One hell of a rack!

sdmark777 · 12-28-2022, 05:19 PM

I ran across this photo and had to share. It is a photo of a German WWII rack of 17 MG-34's in an anti-aircraft role. I had never heard of this before. Just like I never heard of the ten broom handles mounted together which I posted a while back. What a rack!!!

Deputywood · 12-28-2022, 08:49 PM

My Dad did something similar while stationed in Panama during WWII. As an Army Air Forces machinist, he was tasked to design and construct a twelve gun mount for the M-2 .50 cal. At the time, December 1941), the Canal Zone did not have much of any AA defenses. Mainly Coastal Artillery. Dad said they mounted it on a barge in Gatow Lake. Fired at night was spectacular! He also said it wasn't a good idea as the recoil caused numerous stoppages. The M-2's were recovered from "hard landings" of the aircraft in the Zone. He didn't take any photos and I have searched, but found none.

Woody

spangy · 12-28-2022, 09:55 PM

WW2 was an era of innovation and invention as well as a dark moment in history.

One of my all time favorite images is this one:
acoustic_locator_5.jpg acoustic_locator_6.jpg

Sound location equipment in Germany, 1939. It consists of four acoustic horns, a horizontal pair, and a vertical pair, connected by rubber tubes to stethoscope type earphones worn by the two technicians left and right. The stereo earphones enabled one technician to determine the direction and the other the elevation of the aircraft.

gunbugs · 12-28-2022, 09:57 PM

The biggest problem with that MG-34 arrangement is the guns are going to run out of ammo pretty quickly. I'm presuming those are the double 100 round capacity drums, so not much ammo per gun, and pretty time consuming to re-attach already filled drums to 12 guns. Quite a noise maker, though.
The U.S. quad mount 50cals typically used a 250 round "tombstone" drum, plus a 50cal cycles about half as fast as an MG-34.

Edward Tinker · 12-28-2022, 11:37 PM

Yes, I thought the same thing, those zipper guns shoot quick

Batty67 · 12-29-2022, 09:02 AM

I was JUST at the very local to me U.S. Army Museum and was checking out a quad 50 cal. That's a LOT of concentrated firepower!

gunbugs · 12-29-2022, 10:12 AM

I do have an affinity for my old Frigidaire 50.

https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1672323080

https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1672323080

sdmark777 · 12-29-2022, 12:59 PM

They look like basket drums to me. So that would be 50 rounds x 17 = 850 rounds, but that 850 is all gone in the time it takes to shoot 50! I agree that it does not offer much shooting time, but what a hail of bullets to throw out.

12-28-2022, 09:55 PM	#3
spangy Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 632 Thanks: 3,206 Thanked 1,068 Times in 437 Posts	WW2 was an era of innovation and invention as well as a dark moment in history. One of my all time favorite images is this one: acoustic_locator_5.jpg acoustic_locator_6.jpg Sound location equipment in Germany, 1939. It consists of four acoustic horns, a horizontal pair, and a vertical pair, connected by rubber tubes to stethoscope type earphones worn by the two technicians left and right. The stereo earphones enabled one technician to determine the direction and the other the elevation of the aircraft. __________________ Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.

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12-28-2022, 08:49 PM	#2
Deputywood User Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 77 Thanks: 79 Thanked 92 Times in 39 Posts	My Dad did something similar while stationed in Panama during WWII. As an Army Air Forces machinist, he was tasked to design and construct a twelve gun mount for the M-2 .50 cal. At the time, December 1941), the Canal Zone did not have much of any AA defenses. Mainly Coastal Artillery. Dad said they mounted it on a barge in Gatow Lake. Fired at night was spectacular! He also said it wasn't a good idea as the recoil caused numerous stoppages. The M-2's were recovered from "hard landings" of the aircraft in the Zone. He didn't take any photos and I have searched, but found none. Woody

12-28-2022, 09:57 PM	#4
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 681 Thanks: 375 Thanked 1,227 Times in 414 Posts	The biggest problem with that MG-34 arrangement is the guns are going to run out of ammo pretty quickly. I'm presuming those are the double 100 round capacity drums, so not much ammo per gun, and pretty time consuming to re-attach already filled drums to 12 guns. Quite a noise maker, though. The U.S. quad mount 50cals typically used a 250 round "tombstone" drum, plus a 50cal cycles about half as fast as an MG-34.

12-28-2022, 11:37 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,609 Times in 2,123 Posts	Yes, I thought the same thing, those zipper guns shoot quick

12-29-2022, 09:02 AM	#6
Batty67 User Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 34 Thanks: 7 Thanked 44 Times in 14 Posts	I was JUST at the very local to me U.S. Army Museum and was checking out a quad 50 cal. That's a LOT of concentrated firepower!

12-29-2022, 12:59 PM	#8
sdmark777 User Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 301 Thanks: 721 Thanked 705 Times in 186 Posts	They look like basket drums to me. So that would be 50 rounds x 17 = 850 rounds, but that 850 is all gone in the time it takes to shoot 50! I agree that it does not offer much shooting time, but what a hail of bullets to throw out.